Management of data before zero volt suspend in computer power management
First Claim
1. A method for placing a computer having a random access memory (RAM) in a power suspension mode with power removed from the RAM, comprising steps of:
- (a) accessing a compression utility routine;
(b) reading contents of the RAM;
(c) compressing the contents of RAM using the compression utility routine, resulting in a compressed version of the contents of RAM;
(d) storing the compressed version of the contents of RAM on a non-volatile storage device; and
(e) removing power from selected components, including the RAM, to place the computer in the power suspension mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power management system for computers compresses contents of system RAM and stores the contents on a non-volatile storage device before power is suspended to a motherboard, which removes power also from RAM. By compression, the capacity required of the non-volatile storage device is minimized. In a variation, zeros are stored in all RAM area used by memory management software before compression and storage on the non-volatile device. In another variation, areas of RAM used by memory management software are identified, and only those areas not used by memory management software are stored on the non-volatile device. The capability is provided in several ways in different embodiments.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for placing a computer having a random access memory (RAM) in a power suspension mode with power removed from the RAM, comprising steps of:
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(a) accessing a compression utility routine;
(b) reading contents of the RAM;
(c) compressing the contents of RAM using the compression utility routine, resulting in a compressed version of the contents of RAM;
(d) storing the compressed version of the contents of RAM on a non-volatile storage device; and
(e) removing power from selected components, including the RAM, to place the computer in the power suspension mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for saving contents of random access memory (RAM) prior to power suspension in a power managed computer system, to ensure that the computer system can be restarted at the point where activity is suspended, comprising steps of:
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(a) compressing the contents of system RAM, creating a compressed version of system RAM;
(b) storing the compressed version of system RAM on a non-volatile storage device before removing power from system RAM. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A power management control routine for a computer system, comprising:
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a first portion configured for monitoring inputs to the computer relative to time, and for initiating power suspension after passage of a threshold time without input;
a second portion configured for saving random access memory (RAM) contents to a non-volatile storage device before power suspension is initiated; and
a third portion configured for compressing RAM contents before saving to the non-volatile storage device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A basic input output system (BIOS) having a power management control system, wherein the power management control system comprises:
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a first portion for monitoring inputs to the computer relative to time, for initiating power suspension after passage of a threshold time without input;
a second portion configured for saving random access memory (RAM) contents to a non-volatile storage device before power suspension is initiated; and
a third portion configured for compressing RAM contents before saving to the non-volatile storage device. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for placing a computer having a random access memory (RAM) in a power suspension mode with power removed from the RAM, comprising steps of:
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(a) identifying all areas of the RAM used by memory management software;
(b) copying the contents of the RAM, except those areas identified in step (a), to a non-volatile storage device; and
(c) removing power from selected components, including the RAM, to place the computer in the power suspension mode.
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14. A power managed computer system having a random access memory (RAM) wherein a power management control routine monitors inputs to the computer system and initiates a power suspension mode with power removed from the RAM, the power management control routine comprising:
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a first portion configured for monitoring inputs to the computer relative to time, and for initiating power suspension after passage of a threshold time without input;
a second portion configured for saving random access memory (RAM) contents to a non-volatile storage device before power suspension is initiated; and
a third portion configured for compressing RAM contents before saving to the non-volatile storage device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A power-managed computer system having a random access memory (RAM) wherein a power management control routine monitors inputs to the computer system and initiates a power suspension mode with power removed from the RAM, the power management control routine comprising:
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a first portion configured for monitoring inputs to the computer relative to time, and for initiating power suspension after passage of a threshold time without input;
a second portion for identifying areas of the RAM used by memory management software before initiating power suspension; and
a third portion configured for saving random access memory (RAM) contents, except those areas identified as being used by memory management software, before power suspension is initiated.
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Specification